The Bugle: March 2023

Platinum

Kevin and Susan Watson

Ryan and Lori Watson

Aimee Mountford

Ed and Marge Gallagher

Grant and Patty Clark

Justin Thyme

Chris P. Bacon

Eileen Dover

Mark and Cindy Tampow

Metro East Industried, Inc

Gayle Ortyl

The Kampers

Best Buddies Eureka

Julie and Rick Ortyl

Mainstreet Creamery

Sara Brkljach

Vachio Family

The Ewings

Silver

The Tony Clark Family

Kathy Clark

Mike and Mary Tibbets

Associated Realty Solutions

The Muffin Man

Eric Riha

Ron and Janice Schultz

Bronze

The Marshall Family

Glenn and Marie Dunham

The Schneiders

Sheila McCart

James and Bill Yonker

Abigail Yonker Horan

Granny and Granpa Schumacher

ABOUT THE COVER

BUGLE STAFF

Editors-in-Chief

Avery Bigham

Sophia Brummond

News Editors

Madison Heep

Claire Rickles

Opinion Editor

Lucy Branscum

Photo Editor

Cara Brotherton

Social Media Editor

Audrey Watson

Sports Editors

Elli Gianino

Jordan Howlett

Emma Kaemmerer

Lucy Knerr

Sydney McIntosh

Addison Neumann

Amina Phillip

Porter Sayers

Maddie Seitz

Gege Squaratti

Erin Thee

Peyton Wibbenmeyer

Sammie Williams

Created By Cara Brotherton

Rockwood School Board is holding elections on Tuesday, April 5th. Read our preview on page 6-7.

Haiden Schoessel

Reporters

Rylie Cepicky

Morgan Clark

Ava Diekhoff

Lanie Diekhoff

Grace Dunham

Libby Dunham

Sam Garner

Ryan Herrick

Abby Holt

NEW & IMPROVED

Maddie Seitz Reporter

Lions and Legion parks are currently receiving major upgrades

Lions and Legion parks are currently under construction to improve youth sports facilities and bring money into Eureka’s local businesses.

The city officials felt it was important to address the state of parks, such as Lions and Legion, because those parks haven’t received major additions or replacements in about 30 years other than the playgrounds added in 2008 and 2018, respectively.

“One of the things I ran on and the city was interested in was upgrading parks and upgrading all of our youth sports facilities, and that’s probably the most used park we have,” Mayor Sean Flower said. “So what we want to do is try to start doing some major upgrades to it to provide better facilities for all the kids in the area and for the adults in the area.”

To decide what should be upgraded in the parks, there were many meetings held with the city board, park staff, and a group of residents to provide feedback. This feedback was then used to draw up the preliminary plans then those plans were released to the public for further discussion and tweaking.

“I think we’ve had mostly positive comments,” Flower said. “People are pretty excited about it.”

The baseball fields are receiving major upgrades, including replacing all the old baseball structures with new vinyl-coated modern backstops, putting in new shade structures for fans’ comfort, and laying down artificial turf infields for four of the fields. The pavilions are also being replaced for events, parties, and picnics, and there are plans to increase trail connectivity with preexisting trails in Drewel Park. The signage is receiving a facelift, the parking lot is being increased, and an additional restroom facility is being added in Legion Park as well.

The improvements have all been centered around providing residents

with more trail opportunities and updated park facilities, benefiting youth sports, and making the fields more reliable for the players and families.

“But in addition, those turf fields are going to allow us to host tournaments where people from out of town or different areas can come in on the weekend and play baseball tournaments, which drives tourism and brings a lot of people in to shop and at our restaurants,” Flower said. “So it should be good for all the local guys, but it should also be good to attract business and sales tax dollars to the area.”

While flooding is always a concern in Eureka, the remodel plans don’t specifically include flood prevention measures, mainly because the clogged pipe and drain system were fixed before the project began, so the parks won’t see the flash flooding experienced in recent years.

“The only time you’d have an issue would be in the river backup flooding,

but there’s not something we can do there,” Flower said. “One good thing is the turf we’re putting down is put down with a real heavy base, so you’re not going to have an issue even if it gets water on it or flood water on it because you clean it off and get back to playing pretty quick.”

With construction already underway at Lions and Legion, the baseball fields will hopefully be done by the end of April in time for the baseball season, and the remainder will be completed in August with a potential ribbon-cutting ceremony during Eureka Days in September.

“What I think is really going to hit people is when they see it because a lot of people, when they look at stuff on paper, they don’t get a full feel for what you’re doing,” Flower said. “But once people really start seeing the actual structures and how nice the facility is, I think it’s going to be pretty exciting to be down there.”

Master plan diagram of Lions and Legion Parks’ construction courtesy of Julie Wood, City Clerk/Director of Communications

SCOOPING INTO EUREKA’S NEWEST ICE CREAM

Claire Rickles, News Editor

Silver Spoon Ice Cream & Sweets is the newest addition to Eureka’s ice cream selection

A new option for ice cream in Eureka was added on March 10 with the opening of Silver Spoon Ice Cream & Sweets. Silver Spoon, which is located at 98 The Legends Parkway, is coowned by brother and sister Jennifer and David Staral. The Eureka location will be the second Silver Spoon, with the first located in Wildwood.

The opening of the Eureka shop was a six week process.

“It was really smooth and we were just really dedicated to opening in a spot before the spring weather hits,” Jennifer said. “We were hoping that all the people that are maybe not going on spring break could come in and check us out.”

The Silver Spoon owners thought Eureka needed a hard-scoop ice cream option.

“We also thought Eureka would be a good spot with the population and the high school and the kids, and that it would be something very successful that we would like to bring to the community,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer and David opened Silver Spoon after noting that hard-scoop ice cream is a rarity in St. Louis.

“Not everyone is from St. Louis and not everyone has grown up with custard, like David and I have not,” Jennifer said. “We’ve always grown up with hard scoop ice cream and there’s nothing that’s a super-premium ice cream around St. Louis.”

The main difference between the Wildwood and Eureka Silver Spoon will be the ice cream flavors.

“Typically, we have a dipping case with all of our staple flavors which will stay, and then we also have another dipping case that will have all rotating flavors, so if you don’t see an ice cream flavor that you would like in Wildwood or Eureka, check out our other location because we could have it there,” Jennifer said.

When it comes to choosing the best flavor, Jennifer recommends going outside of the box.

“I always have people go towards something that is a rotating flavor, just because sometimes that flavor may not come back for a month or two,” Jennifer said. “But then you have people who are super straight old-fashioned vanilla or they’re just straight strawberry, and I understand that too. But all of our flavors are going to be much

different than any other flavors or any other ice cream that you’ve tasted, whether it be via a supermarket or any of the other ice cream shops around the St. Louis area.”

In addition to quarts and pints of ice cream, Silver Spoon will offer items such as homemade ice cream cakes, ice cream pies, ice cream cookie sandwiches and ice cream filled Krispy Kreme donuts.

According to Jennifer, success for the Eureka Silver Spoon means being accepted by the Eureka community.

“The goal when the floods came through was Eureka Strong. I was here during that time, and a lot of the business owners pulled together to help one another. We’re looking to make sure that we’re part of that community,” Jennifer said.

David Staral helps a customer at Silver Spoon Ice Cream & Sweets (Eureka) on opening day, March 10, 2023. Photo by Sophia Brummond.

BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS

A look into the newest candidates for the Rockwood Board of Education

Karen Bachert is a lifelong resident of the Rockwood School District, even attending Westridge, Selvidge and Lafayette. She graduated from Mizzou with an elementary education degree and got her masters in educational administration from University of Missouri-Saint Louis. Bachert taught for eight years and received teacher of the year honors twice. Karen has volunteered in Rockwood for more than 15 years and has been on multiple committees including the Rose Award. Bachert has two sons, Brady who graduated from Eureka in 2021 and Bennett who is currently a sophomore at Eureka.

Bachert’s motivation for running is to give back to the Rockwood community because she is saddened by how students and staff have been treated in the past. She hopes to change that narrative by having conversations with stakeholders and move into a more positive direction.

“Being a lifelong resident of Rockwood, I have seen our district grow and change over the past 50 years,” Bachert said. “I have a deep understanding on how our district runs ranging from curriculum writing to finances and facilities to discipline. As an active volunteer for the past 15 years, I believe I have worked with thousands of parent volunteers and can help to unite our district for the good of all students.”

Richard Wierzba moved to the Rockwood area in 2012 because of its excellent reputation and moved again in 2014 in order for his children to attend Babler Elementary, where they currently attend. He owns and runs a successful small business that he started 28 years ago, but his most important job in life is to push his boys to be better.

Wierzba’s sons and the students of the Rockwood community are his motivation to run for the Board. As a small business owner, Wierzba has first-hand experience of seeing graduates that are unprepared for the responsibilities in a job or in life. He wants to emphasize the importance of academics and help teach that hard work, skills, and motivation are the keys to success.

“Having a variety of perspectives and skill sets is really important,” Wierzba said. As a business owner in the outside world, I see whether what we’re doing in the classroom is working or not, because I hire recent graduates and see what they’re capable of doing. Additionally, I routinely have to make decisions that meet the needs of both my employees and my customers. Teachers are our employees. You, parents, and taxpayers, are our customers. I will work for all of you.”

Robert Cadigan has lived in the Saint Louis area for 25 years, but the last six years he has lived in the Rockwood area. Cadigan graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served for 11 years in the Army. He also earned a masters degree in business administration from the University of Kansas and has nearly 30 years of corporate leadership experience in positions ranging from manager to vice president. Cadigan has a combined family with his wife, two children graduated from college, two children in Rockwood, one in high school and the other in middle school, and a grandchild in elementary school.

Cadigan is married to a Rockwood teacher who is also an alum. Since they are very committed to Rockwood, they often discuss what goes on and it’s not always positive which he said is concerning as a parent and family who is deeply invested in the district. While he believes Rockwood is a good district, he also thinks there are things that the Rockwood community can do better.

“I have worked with many diverse teams, and I’m also a parent and a taxpayer,” Cadigan said. “I believe with a bachelor’s and master’s degree, military and corporate leadership experience, and a little luck that I can make a positive impact on the school board and help unify our community.”

Karen Bachert

Robert Cadigan

Richard Wierzba

Lynne Midyett has a bachelor’s degree of science in education from University of Missouri-Columbia, a master’s degree of science in special education from Southern Illinois University and an Administration Certification from University of Missouri-Saint Louis. She has a long standing history, commitment and love for the Rockwood School District that has spanned nearly four decades. Midyett has been honored to work with students and families as a teacher, assistant principal, area coordinator, director, assistant superintendent and a Board of Education Director in previous years. Her children graduated from Marquette and her grandchildren attend Rockwood Schools as well.

Midyett believes in the strength of Rockwood and the community surrounding it. She is passionate about the fact that all students deserve a quality education and believes she can help ‘give back’ by serving on the Board of Education.

“My priorities continue to be academic excellence in a safe and welcoming learning environment, retention and recruitment of top talent, stellar strategic planning, and fiscal accountability,” Midyett said. “An additional priority focus is a board of education that functions as a team, listens to community stakeholders and is innovative in thinking and approach.”

Midyett believes her longstanding history of service in public education and previously serving on the Board of Education makes her stand out.

“During my six years on the Rockwood Board of Education, I have served on numerous committees and currently represent Rockwood on the Special School District Governing Council and Education Plus Board,” Midyett said.

Thomas Dunn moved from the Chicago area in 2011 for a job relocation and selected Wildwood because of the Rockwood School District. Dunn graduated from Bradley University and would be a high school history teacher and swim coach if he wasn’t in sales. He has also served on the Board of Education, but took a year off prior to running for this upcoming term. Dunn has three daughters, his oldest graduated from Eureka in 2021, his middle daughter is currently attending Lafayette and his youngest attends Wildwood Middle.

Dunn served on the Board of Education from 2019-2022 and during that time he realized that if he wanted to make a difference, he needed to be a part of it. Especially after the District has has a few rough years.

“I have the experience of serving on the Board of Education previously,” Dunn said. “I did not grow up in the St Louis region so I can provide a different perspective. In my Sales position, I work with a lot of government agencies including school districts. I am rational, level headed, and use common sense when making decisions.”

Dunn also strongly encourages that if anyone has questions to check out his website at www.dunn4rockwood.com and submit the question there.

Madison Heep

Lynne Midyett

Thomas Dunn

Trisha Katzfey is also running for an open spot on the Board of Education, however she did not complete request for interview.

FRIZZ FEST U supporting the women in the community

Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the women of our community. One way St. Louis shows their support for all women is through a special festival called Frizz Fest U. This event was held on March 5, at Washington University.

The festival is being put together by Frizzy By Nature. This organization’s goal is to help women become confident and love themselves. Leslie Hughes was in charge of putting the event together.

“We recently brought on an entertainment manager by the name of Alonzo Townsend,” Leslie Hughes said. “The community of St. Louis is involved in the festival, anyone and everyone who aligns with our love and support for the black community, from vendors, artists, organizations, and attendees.”

Everyone struggles with their own problems and it is important to keep people uplifted and feeling valued. People experience difficult walks in life and want something on the way to help them feel better. Hughes and her family had a big loss, but that didn’t stop them from helping their community.

“I was inspired to start the festival after my mother passed away,” Hughes said. “After that I had begun a new journey of self-love and healing and

I wanted to uplift other women along the way.”

They planned a gathering for poetry, a talk night by a fire, vendors and food trucks owned by black women, a dj for good vibes, and even a photo booth. This will help bring together women to support one another and learn about each other.

“The atmosphere of the festival is pure love,” Hughes said. “It is people from all different works of life coming together to love, support, and celebrate each other. Words don’t do the festival justice, you really need to be there to experience it.”

People learned to listen to each other and support what others love. This helps people to understand how important and caring the women in this community really are.

“I hope the festival makes people feel inspired, joyful, and celebrated,” Hughes said. “I want people to feel a sense of purpose, to know that they are loved and appreciated. I want people to feel confident in just being themselves, that they are beautiful just the way they are.”

This event is not only to support the women but also the overall community and love in it. Leslie Hughes, her sister Valerie Hughes, and her brother Ricky Huges want to show everyone that they are loved and beautiful in their

own ways. They also ensure that the black community feels the same love, appreciation and respect as well.

“I want to do all that I can in the ways that I know best to enhance the well-being of the community I serve,” Hughes said. “Many times black women don’t receive the love, support, and respect they deserve so I am intentional in creating spaces that do that.”

Frizz Fest, as a whole, has many goals and accomplishments. They do their best to support and take care of as many people, other organizations, and businesses as possible.

“The festival is a space where the members of our community feel safe, seen and celebrated,” Hughes said. “Not only does the event support and empower the underrepresented group, black women. We support small businesses through our vendor market that highlights 40, or more, local black owned businesses, our youth zone inspires creativity and positive influence, and our community circle features local nonprofits that provide resources and share information necessary for the advancement of our community members. In addition, there are many other aspects of Frizz Fest that cater to mental, physical, financial, and emotional well-being.”

Left: Valerie Hughes Right: Leslie Huges

MORE EDUCATION OR LESS MONEY?

Porter Sayers Reporter

Should Quizlet be offering a subscription plan for more advanced study materials?

One of the most popular free learning resources for students in high school, Quizlet is now encouraging students to pay for an extensive and advanced service to improve studying skills and methods of learning.

Quizlet has been known as a free, accessible resource for 2 of 3 High School students over several years, now this new “Quizlet Plus” subscription is a form to generate extra income in return for more accessibility to their services.

Customers enjoy ad-free experiences with the ability to access Quizlet “learning sets” in offline environments to allow unlimited access for studying.

The cost of this freedom however, is taking away from the attractiveness of this deal. Many students rely on various sources of studying and learning, several of which cost money to use their services.

Kahoot! Another popular resource among students, offers a free plan but also a subscription plan with already made collections of studying sources for 5 dollars per month. PBS, another well-trusted resource, has a lock on various videos and/or documentaries with the “Passport subscription.” The use of the free plan limits the students’ studying resources.

Chegg, an extremely popular study tool with some of the most advanced methods for a learning program offers multiple benefits when signing up for their subscription and services. Chegg has “snapshot” help to solve homework with “expert-solutions” including access to hundreds of textbooks (although having to buy or rent) etc, while also indulging the student in a DOORDASH student membership.

While goods and greats are constantly advertised in these services, the cost seems to completely counteract the benefits. Chegg’s subscription is 15.95 dollars per month.

According to ChildStats.gov and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, roughly 20 percent

Percentage of Teens Employed in 2021

of U.S. teens (16-19 years old) who are enrolled in school also have paying jobs (see chart below).

On a limited income, roughly 80 percent of High School students are getting influenced to invest into multiple subscriptions in order to get access to advanced and efficient learning programs.

It is completely unfair of large companies with a steady profit to promote their “free” services to students for their “great study tools” and then push a subscription policy to operate at a more efficient pace and have access to more learning resources.

Statistics provided by ChildSats.gov; Visual Graph made by Porter Sayers; Visual 2 (Quizlet, BrainPOP, Chegg, KhanAcademy, PBS, Kahoot!) made by Porter Sayers

BEST BREAKFAST BITES

The most popular breakfast places in Eureka

Ava Diekhoff, reporter

Eureka is filled with many places to eat, especially breakfast places, that many people come to enjoy. The most popular of these breakfast places are our local stars and some classic favorites: Michelle’s cafe, Sarah’s on Central, Chick N Elly’s, and St. Louis Bread Co.

Michelle’s Cafe is a cafe in Eureka that offers a fantastic breakfast and a cozy atmosphere. They have a more contemporary cuisine and many people also go there to enjoy their lunch and dinner.

Sarah’s on Central features their most popular orders, including chicken and waffles, avocado toast, and jumbo cinnamon rolls. They are also well known for its broad dessert selection which many people enjoy.

Chick N Elly’s is a family-owned restaurant that is known for their wide selection of home-style breakfasts. People enjoy bringing their families there for the excellent food and atmosphere.

St. Louis Bread Co. is another popular chain restaurant located in Eureka that offers a wide selection of breakfasts until 11am. Famous for the variety of flavors for bagels and coffees,

104 S Central Ave, Eureka, MO 63025

127 S Central Ave, Eureka, MO 63025

122 S Central Ave, Eureka, MO 63025

201 E 5th St, Eureka, MO 63025

DID THEY NAIL IT?

Popular nail salons that Eureka students love

By definition, a nail salon is an establishment that offers nail beautification services for men and women. They offer various services for hands and feet, including manicures, pedicures, nail polish application, nail repair, and hand/foot treatments. There are many nail salons in the St. Louis area that Eureka students support such as: Eureka Nails, XO nails, Soho Nails, TH nails and MT nails. All of these places provide the perfect combination of mental relaxation and adorable nail designs.

REBECCA DILLON NAMED EHS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Math teacher has been teaching in the district for 14 years

Math teacher Rebecca Dillon has been working hard and teaching for fourteen years, this year she is proud to be recognized as Eureka’s teacher of the year. She is very grateful to be recognized for her hard work and dedication.

“On one hand it’s nice to be acknowledged, but on the other hand teachers have bad days and we’re not always perfect”, Dillon said.

Dillon has worked in the district for fourteen years, eight at LaSalle Springs Middle School and six here at Eureka.

Dillon has loved the time she has spent here and feels that EHS has a great atmosphere. Not only does Dillon believe there are great teachers and staff in this building, they also believe that about her.

“I think it’s important to recognize her efforts with ETC, scheduling the theater, helping out with sound and lighting for other events and her continued work on school committees. Becca ‘bleeds purple’ and makes Eureka a better place”, foreign language teacher, Jenni Highfill said.

Dillon is a very helpful and positive light according to her co-workers.

“Ms. Dillon is an outstanding teacher. She knows her students very well. Her planning of lessons is exemplary. She works to make the content math students are learning is experienced in an applicable way. Rebecca has high expectations and builds great relationships with her kids. She works well with cooperating colleagues in the classroom to make sure all student needs are met”, Dan Thoman said.

Dillon has always had a Eureka spirit, especially because she grew up attending Geggie, LaSalle Springs, and then EHS.

With her hard work and Eureka spirit Dillon is named teacher of the year, she feels lucky to be acknowledged and will be happy for the next winner.

Teacher of the Year

Finalists

1.Rebecca Dillon, Math

2.Tom Beckmeyer, Industrial Tech

3.Nathan Schafferkoetter, Choir

Dillon poses for photo in her classroom.

DROPS OF THE MONTH

Artists dropping albums

March 2023

Sammie Williams, Reporter

Gettin’ Old Luke Combs

March 24

One Thing at a Time Morgan Wallen

March 3

Ben Macklemore

March 3

Endless Summer Vacation

Miley Cyrus

March 10

The Grants Lana Del Rey

March 24

So Much For Stardust Fall Out Boy

March 24

Portals Melanie Martinez

March 31

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

Popular 2023 Podcasts that have splashed Spotify

Emma Kaemmerer Reporter

Whether you’re doing the dishes or finishing your homework, podcasts are a great way to keep your mind occupied with something that peaks your interest while simultaneously accomplishing a dull task. Spotify as well as other online streaming services, offer a variety of podcast subjects for any interest you might have. From True Crime Junkies to Baking Fanatics, there’s something for you. Take a look at a few top podcasts that are currently trending on the Spotify platform:

1 “Crime Junkie” with Ashley Flowers

If you’re interested in the grueling mystery of murder profiles, this true crime prodcast is for you. With a 4.8 star rating, you can find weekly updates on Spotify as well as Apple Music.

“Everything Goes” with Emma Chamberlain

Youtube sensation and Instagram Influencer Emma Chamberlian shares her uncencored thoughts through this weekly podcast

3 “Straight Up With Stassi” with Stassi Schroeder

Stassi examines her personal journey as well as her concepted ‘highs and lows’ of life through her weekly updated podcast

“Was that TMI?” with Sadie Crowell

Being real, brutally honest, and over-sharing are just a couple of reasons as to how Sadie Crowell grew her 2 million listener audience on Spotify and Apple Music

“Rotten Mango” with Stephanie Soo & Audioboom

2

5

4

Rotten Mango is yet another all true crime podcast with all things spooky and scary. With a deep dive into the the worlds darkest crimes, Stephanie Soo doesn’t fail to leave out any excruciating details.

“Rachel Uncensored” with Rachel Ballinger

Rachel shares with her auidence relationship advice, would you rathers, shocking horror stories, and more. Her podcast has over a million daily listeners and a 4.6 star rating on the Spotify platform.

6

THE NAMES BEHIND THE GAME

Two EHS staff members’ shoe game stands out above all the rest

Two staff members at Eureka High are always going above and beyond with their shoe game and outfits during the school year and the students absolutely love it.

Dr. Arledge, freshman grade level principal, is a shoe fanatic and collector and Mr. Atienza, math teacher and E-sports coach, is always adding to his collection and making a statement at school with many different customized shoes.

Atienza is extremely invested in his shoe collection that he has been continuing to build over the years. He currently owns over two hundred pairs of shoes and is looking to add more in the near future. But, there are some shoes he already has that have a special meaning behind them.

“I have two pairs of shoes that are my absolute favorites: Kobe AD 2018’s that are customized with my twin girls’ initials on the tongue and their birthday on the back, as well as a pair of Kyrie 7’s customized with my son’s initials on the tongue,” Atienza said.

Not only do Atienza’s shoes represent his family, but also who he is as a person and his heritage.

“One shoe is blue, red, white and yellow which represents the Philippine flag and the other shoe is black, white, green and red which represents the Syrian flag,” Atienza said.

Dr. Arledge is a shoe lover and is always looking to grow his shoe collection and freshen up his shoe game. He has many pairs that he’s customized or bought to show Eureka pride wearing purple and gold or even having shoes with the wildcat on them.

“I would say if I estimated, I have at least 80 pairs of shoes, but probably more than that,” Arledge said.

Arledge has many different styles of shoes from Jordan 1’s to Yeezy 350’s but, he has one pair of unconventional shoes that stand out above the rest and have true meaning to him.

“I still have my soccer cleats from Nebraska and my college years and I’ve held on to them for so long because I have good memories wearing them,” Arledge said.

Both staff members have great shoe collections and even better stories behind them.

Grace Dunham, Reporter

Illustrations by Cara Brotherton

P.O.V. TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS NEED TO GO

Your relationship isn’t enemies to lovers, it’s just unhealthy

Introduction

Be honest. How many times have you found yourself sitting down watching your favorite TV show or movie and found yourself falling for the labeled ‘bad boy’ of the show? You can’t help but be attracted to him, the rugged good looks, sarcastic sense of humor, and most of all the ‘I don’t care’ attitude that governs not only his life plan but also his relationships. It seems the ‘bad boy’ trope surrounds us everywhere. From Tiktok ‘POV’ trends, to TV shows, to movies, we are obsessed with the bad boy archetype, but in real life, this archetype never holds up. In fact, it can easily cause people to enter into toxic relationships as they search for this fictional character that doesn’t exist in real life.

feel as if you know someone better than you actually do.

Hooking up is Not Dating

Hookup culture also perpetuates this fascination with the bad boy type. Hookup culture decreases feelings of intimacy and connection and it reinforces the idea that it is normal for your partner to be detached and uncaring, creating a cycle of toxic relationships. If you are simply hooking up, there is no pressure to commit or label the relationship. The bare minimum treatment becomes praised due to low expectations of how to be treated and people who demand better treatment are labeled ‘high maintenance.’

Lucy Branscum, Opinions Editor

havior and just continue to try and fix our partner because we’ve accepted a flawed idea that we should appreciate any small support or love we get from the relationship and never demand more because that is selfish.

Conclusion

It is time for the ‘bad boy’ archetype to be finally retired. Their aloofness, jealousy, and lack of attentiveness is not attractive, it is just toxic. It is not some fictional trope that miraculously found its way into your relationship, it is a societal symptom of the belief that you deserve to be treated poorly by your partners and that if you’re a good enough partner it will convince them

The Thrill is in The Chase Shallow Social Media

Some people argue that these types of relationships are exciting. Capturing and maintaining a disinterested person’s attention is almost like a game. Every small bit of attention is exhilarating but the loss of it feels devastating as you fight to regain their attention. This roller coaster of emotion may be temporarily thrilling, but long term it is unstable and insecure and leaves people feeling low self-esteem, a lack of trust, and a fear of vulnerability.

Social media fuels the cycle of shallow relationships. When you first meet someone you’re interested in, you most likely get their Snapchat rather than their number. However, it’s difficult to feel like you really know someone through social media as the physical and emotional distance that is inherent to social media makes surface level conversation feel like the safest option. This leads relationships to not be rooted in intimate and vulnerable conversation which are imperative to creating a deep and meaningful connection with others. Furthermore, red flags are easier to both hide and ignore without face to face meeting and makes people

YOUR RELATIONSHIP

MAY NOT BE AS PERFECT AS IT APPEARS

Due to societal influence and media, people are also expected to serve as a ‘fixer’ of this relationship. If they love you, they will change right? Wrong. However, we keep trying and trying because we are stuck in a psychological battle between thinking we deserve better treatment and wanting to stay with a partner because you want them to be better for you. As a society, we are so conditioned to accept bad be -

to love us better. The problem with that is you already deserve better. You deserve more out of your relationship than a hookup and an occasional good morning text. You deserve an actual relationship built on a foundation of love, support, and overall happiness. Love is not conditional and it should not be painful so stop expecting it to be.

“I Can Change Them”

PLANTING OUR HEARTS IN EUREKA Insight on Eureka’s new Gardening Club

Peyton Wibbenmeyer reporter

love to do. They are very passionate about gardening and I want to make it possible for them to fulfill their goals to make the school better.”

Broekelmann is excited to see how this club is growing and already working with other clubs to help benefit the school.

With hopes of making EHS more eco-friendly, the gardening club meets every Wednesday after school to dive deep into the makings of plants and the ways of promoting their green friends around the campus. The club provides a new community for students interested in environmental studies while also welcoming those who just want to garden. .

Quinn Swope (11) has always had an extreme passion for gardening and has their own indoor garden in their bedroom that includes 36 plants. Swope wants to go into Forestry Botany at Oregon State and pursue their passion. Swope had the idea last year to start a gardening club and was extremely eager to take all the steps to make their dream reality at Eureka.

“I meet with Broekellman, who is the sponsor of our club, and decide what we’re going to be doing for each set meeting. We have a website we created that has a calendar showing what we are doing each day, like today we are making posters to advertise gardening clubs,” Swope said.

Gardening club includes more than just growing plants. This club learns about plant identification, growth stimulants, ways to make the school more green and eco friendly, and experiments with finding new ways to create different plants.

“3 weeks ago we presented an idea to Dr. Sink about our plans to make the school more green, such as a native garden in the courtyard and compost bins in the cafeteria which he said we could definitely do,” Swope said. “We also are planning on including a rain garden to help absorb a lot of the wa-

ter from floods and instead of the trash from litter going into the creek, this rain garden would help absorb some of that pollutant and protect it from getting in the ecosystem.”

Gardening club’s main goal is to create more sustainable things around the school to help the environment and teach people how to garden.

“We are on this planet and we attend this school so we can only make so much of an impact” Swope said. “But one thing that our club can definitely help with at least is monarch population by putting in the native garden and milkweed,before I leave my senior year, I want to establish a milkweed garden in the courtyard because all the plants there currently aren’t really beneficial to any endangered species so gardening club is extremely important to me because I get to share my love for gardening with others, and help save the planet,” Swope said.

Mr. Broekelmann, the sponsor for Eureka’s gardening club, hosts the club in his classroom after school. Broekelmann shared his enthusiasm for the club with the Bugle, saying how proud he was of the club’s success and the dedication they have all shared when meeting.

“I admire the desire these students have to make the school a more beautiful and environmentally friendly place,” Broekelmann said.

“I mostly stay out of the students way and let them do what they

“The gardening club is working with the science club to make a native plant garden on the northside of school, which has started already, and I am excited to see these groups work together to make something they all care about happen in the school,” Broekelmann said.

It is important for Broekelmann to sponsor this club because he noticed the desire that Quinn Swope had for this club and enjoys watching students get involved in the school.

“I saw that Quinn was very passionate about this and they really wanted to have it happen, for me, being the reason a student gets to fulfill something they want to do within school is important, I am not much of a gardener myself, but I appreciate the love Quinn had for it and simply, I wanted to help a student and I wanted to watch them make it happen,” Broekelmann said.

Gardening club is clearly a very eco friendly club that is full of leadership and teamwork. This club learns about all sorts of different plants and is an easy, fun way to educate yourself on

Club photo of Eureka’s Gardening Club

GET YOUR GREEN ON FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY

How St. Louis celebrates St. Patrick’s day

Sydney McIntosh, Reporter

The month of March is full of fun activities for EHS such as March Madness, spring break, and spring sports. St. Patrick’s day is a traditional celebration held on March 17 filled with parades, gatherings, and ,of course, lots of good luck. Although St. Patrick’s day isn’t as popular as some celebrations, it’s amusing to celebrate with your friends and family.

The background of Saint Patrick’s day starts with St. Patrick who was the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Roman Britain and brought to Ireland in 432 BC at the age 16. St. Patrick’s day became an official celebration in 1631, when the catholic church established a Feast Day honoring St. Patrick. As time went on, this celebration became more popular for people who like to go to parades, parties, and restaurants.

Some known parades in STL are the Dogtown Parade, and St. Patrick’s Day parade run. Make sure you bring warm clothes, chairs, and green accessories. This year, downtown STL is hosting their 54th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12, it will include fun floats, marching bands, Irish dancers, and cartoon-character balloons. Over 25,000 spectators regularly attend and it is the largest parade held in downtown St. Louis. There are also important guests that appear on the parade floats. Such as the Mayor of St. Louis, the St. Louis County Executive, and other regional and local administrators leading the parade.

Established in 2011, O’Dell’s in Downtown Eureka is an Irish Pub/Restaurant that takes St. Patrick’s day seriously. The restaurant is as if you’re sitting in a pub in Ireland with themes like barrel chairs, a stoned fireplace, and antique showcases. O’Dell’s is a perfect atmosphere to celebrate the fun filled celebration with food, drinks, and company.

The outside of O’Dell’s has vibrant irish colors, and open windows to attract customers to enjoy the delicious food, socialization with friends and family, and experience the Irish feel.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF GSV

St. Louis’ most prominent high school sports platform

Lanie Diekhoff, Reporter

Gateway Sports Venue, a social media platform, is one of the most popular and reliable sources of information for high school sports in the St. Louis area. John Hough is the name behind the growing platform that was created in 2016 and continues to shed light on talented athletes and to strengthen the culture of St. Louis high school sports.

“One of the main reasons why GSV exists is to give teenagers throughout the St. Louis area a platform unlike any other,” Hough said, “Shedding light on athletes in the right way will make sports more enjoyable and will help kids evolve into better young adults through creativity, communication, and coordination.”

The platform has slowly grown over the years with the help of consistent hard work and Hough has plans to further expand his platform. “Hard work and putting in the time is the way to succeed in everything and building GSV is no exception to that,” Hough said, “Almost every school we can think of in the St. Louis area has a sizeable portion of kids/coaches knowing what GSV is and It’s crazy to think that plenty of people from Troy, Missouri and Troy, Illinois know and talk about GSV.”

Hough’s platform began after creating a high school sports website with an Instagram account shortly after, both took off in 2018 after including player rankings. “I was inspired to film videos by a website in Springfield called ‘Channel 1450’, and I thought it would be the coolest job ever for me to eventually work for them,” Hough said.

The GSV platform is seen to be a credible source of information for high school sports in the St. Louis area. “I’ve been in the media since 2014, and it’s been almost ten years now and I’m still in my 20s,” Hough said, “I’ve learned how to cover games, interview athletes and coaches, and build trusted relationships with them.”

GSV is well known for posting reliable team and player rankings, meanwhile students wait in anticipation to see where Eureka High School ranks. “We base the team rankings on winning percentage, strength of schedule, key wins or losses, and team potential, and we probably emphasize more on strength of schedule since there’s plenty of teams who have solid records, but don’t play good teams,” Hough said, “More importantly, you have to know what players are on what team and know what each team is capable of doing.”

Sports have always been a part of Hough’s life, even as a kid. “I’ve been a sports fan all of my life because my dad took my brother and I to Cardinals, Rams, and Illini games since I was in kindergarten,” Hough said, “There are probably better thrills in life than sports, but they’re harder to find than living and dying with your favorite team.”

MID-MAJOR MADNESS

Sam Garner, Reporter

Every year, it seems that a random directional school with the enrollment of a high-school somehow ascends through the bracket, leaving a trail of upsets behind them. From UMBC’s upset of one seed Virginia to Loyola Chicago’s magical Final Four run in 2018, these Cinderella- like stories that happen every year is what makes March Madness so special. These four teams all have great chances to become the next underdog to shock America this month.

College of Charleston

Second, with perhaps the most impressive season out of the listed teams, is College of Charleston. Led by Pat Kelsey, Charleston is currently 31-3, without one true star player. 6 players on CoC average 9 or more points and The Cougars have managed to defeat a power five team, beating Virginia Tech 77-75. Also, CoC does not have one defining weakness, and are a very well-rounded team. As a No. 12 seed, they play fellow mid-major San Diego State Thursday, March 16.

Oral Roberts Summit League

Four Mid-Majors to Watch in March Madness 1 2 3 4

Even casual college hoops fans can probably remember the historic run to the Sweet Sixteen by No. 15 seed Oral Roberts in 2021. If you weren’t familiar with the Golden Eagles then, you should be now. Finishing 18-0 in Summit League play, this team is arguably more talented than the 2021 team with hero, Max Abmas, still around, and the addition of 7’5” Connor Vanover from Arkansas. The duo combined averages 35.1 points per game. A recurring theme amongst these teams however, is their inability to challenge upper competition. As for Oral Roberts, they only have one Top-100 ranked win this year, against Liberty. No. 12 seed ORU has a tough first round matchup against Duke on Thursday, March 16.

Next up are the Drake Bulldogs. Drake is led by Darian Devries, who with a run in March could easily be looking for a power five job this offseason. The star player for the Bulldogs is Tucker Devries, the coach’s son. Devries averages 19 ppg along with a 22 point performance against Bradley to clinch a spot in March Madness. Many expect Darnell Brodie to dominate down low with almost nine points and eight boards per contest. No. 12 seed Drake plays Miami Friday, March 17.

The last contender to make a run this March is Kennesaw State. Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, has led a remarkable turnaround from going 1-28 in 2020, to 24-8 this year. The Owls are led by star player, Chris Youngblood, who leads the team in scoring with 14.7 ppg as well as shooting 41.6% from three. One concern, Kennesaw is 0-2 against power five competition this year, losing to Florida and Indiana. In order to make a Cinderella run in the tournament, KSU will need to break this streak. No. 14 seed Kennesaw plays Xavier Friday, March 17.

This is in no way a guarantee that these teams live up to expectations. The beauty of these teams however, is that all four could be first round exits, or they could all make it past the first weekend. The unpredictability of all 68 teams is what gives March its Madness.

Eurekas varsity water polo team in 1997 with only two girls.

Eurekas varsity water polo team in 2022 with six girls.

DO THE BLUES HAVE A CLUE ON WHAT TO DO?

After trading two stanley cup stars, St. Louis Blues fans start to question the structure of their team

As the hockey season continues, St. Louis Blues fans feel as if this season has dragged on long enough and are ready to see it come to an end. This terrible streak with the Blues has been a topic of conversation for many, many, many months ever since the trades began.

The beginning of the trade season was supposed to be a more optimistic time for the Blues, as they acquired forwards Kasperi Kaparun from Pittsburg and Jakub Vrana from Detroit (whom I will get back to later), the Blues seemed to have seven strong forwards.

As the trades continued though, not many other huge moves were made by Doug Armstrong telling Blues fans that the roster for next season is basically set, which many fans dont know how to feel about.

Armstrong seems to be dependent on young all stars for the team next year. In a recent press release, Armstrong stated that he intends for many younger league players, including defenceman Tyler Tucker and forward, Nikita Alexandrov, to make his team next year.

Of course there has to be a bright spot somewhere for the Blues in this current season right? Wrong. The Blues continue their season with a record of 28 wins and 31 losses.

After a demoralizing loss to the bottom of the league team in the Coyotes on March 7, it has become clear that the defense should be the main focus of the off-season.

The Blues failed to score on six power plays during this game, including a 5 on 3.

After trading former captain Ryan O’Reilly to Toronto,the Blues have had a 5.9 percent success rate on power plays, which gives the Blues tremendously low odds on scoring during these penalty plays.

I think this could be slightly explained by the number of players the

Blues are seeing come and go. Blues players have to work with new-comers and you can’t form an all star team overnight, as we are painfully seeing.

Of course, we can’t forget about the state of our defense right now. It seems that nothing has been working for them all sea son long. The game against the Coyotes on Tuesday actually marked the 24th time out of 63 games where the blues have given up 5 or more goals, and its the 26th time this season the Blues have given up more than 3 goals in a single period, which in my opinion, is unacceptable.

Now, it’s not all on the defense. The offense has failed to produce on power plays, breakaways and honestly on most offensive plays.

Despite all the struggles though, it appears that Jakub Vrana (see I told you I’d get back to him) has started to make a name for himself on the St. Louis Blues.

In the March 6 game against the Coyotes, Vrana got off to a hot start, with a breakaway three minutes into the game,and on March 10, Vrana was able to score the game-winning goal in the third period against the San Jose Sharks.

Sophia Brummond, Editor-in-Chief

speed and an

line-up, which is much needed after trading our top offensive forwards, O’Reilly and Vladmir Tarasenko. However, some Blues fans have faith that some of our 2019 Stanley Cup all stars could return to where it all began.

“You hate to see those guys go because they helped us win a Stanley Cup,” Blues fan and physical education teacher, Jason Conley, said. “They were all free agents so it was good to at least get some draft picks and young talent, plus, they could possibly sign O’Reilly or some other guys in the offseason.”

St. Louis is not contending this year, and quite honestly may not be contending next year, Armstrong will definitely have his hands full trying to piece together another Stanley Cup winning team.

SOCCER SUPERSTARS

The girl’s soccer team looks forward to a new season with new additions

After the end of spring tryouts, Eureka cannot wait to get things in action,specifically with the girls soccer team. This year the team is predicted to be very strong and make a run for a state title. Callaway Combs, 11, made the varsity team as a freshman and is looking forward to the team’s new additions this year. She enters her junior season with high expectations as an upperclassmen.

Juniors Maison Smith, Emma Parker, and Zoe Cuneio have decided to play this season which is huge for the wildcats. Combs is excited about what they will bring to the table. Juniors Smith, Parker, and Cuneio did not play for Eureka their freshman or sophomore seasons.

All four of these high level female athletes plan to continue their soccer careers at division one programs. They are hoping to use this season as a way to prepare for the next level of competition. Combs plans to attend Mizzou in the fall of 2024 to carry on her soccer experience.

“Having Maison, Emma, and Zoe join us this year is gonna be huge. Maison and I play on the same club team and we practice with Zoe and Emma so we are all familiar playing with each other. The three of them are really going to help keep the team intensity high...I’m super excited to have them on the field with us.” Combs, 11 said.

Maison Smith is committed to University of Alabama and plans to graduate early in January of 2024. Her dedication and experience with soccer is tremendous.

“I decided to play high school soccer this year because I am really looking forward to playing with my friends and for my community. I think this team will help me become a more complete player for my future.” Smith, 11, said.

Although she did not participate in Eureka soccer her freshman and sophomore year, she gets a ton of touches in club ball. Smith also puts in a lot of time getting better outside of the soccer field.

“I play for the ECNL team at Scott Gallagher and it has been so awesome.Last year we won the national championship which was so great. No team from the club has ever been able to, so it was so exciting to bring that title back to the club and STL. We were undefeated in the regular season this year and are super excited to go back to nationals this summer!” Smith, 11, said.

Abby Holt, Reporter

Similar to Smith, Cuneio is committed to continue her soccer career at Purdue University. She too plans to graduate early. She knew that playing high school ball this season would give her an opportunity to get even better before college.

“The goal I have for this team is to win state, all of these girls can bring something unique to the table and when we put all of our skills together I am hoping we can play really well together. “ Cuneio, 11.

Cuneio has many individual accomplishments as a player and hopes to continue making a name for herself by graduating early.

“I have been to USYNT Identification Centers and I have been to a USYNT Training Camp. I was named the ECNL U16 Midwest Player of the year, ECNL U16 Midwest 1st Team All-Conference and ECNL U17 Midwest 1st Team All-Conference, and was named to the U16 ECNL All American Team. Throughout the month of August I trained with a professional team, Kansas City Current.” Cuneio, 11 said. “The main reason I am graduating early is because of the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) draft. The NWSL draft is held in January. Graduating highschool early would put me on track to graduate college early, just in time for the draft.”

Emma Parker is committed to the University of Arkansas and joins the wildcat soccer team for her first season this year. She also plans to graduate early in January of 2024 to do her best to earn a starting spot in the fall of 2024 in Fayetteville.

“I decided to play soccer for Eureka this year because it’s my last chance to play for my school and win a state title.” Parker, 11 said. “I hope to keep building our friendships and I am very excited about us playing with each other outside of a club environment. I think being surrounded and supported by the student body around us will be an amazing experience.”

With an already talented group of girls, these three additions to the team will be a positive change for the wildcats. The team’s talent is expected to be very high this year, not only because of these nationally ranked players but also because of the hard work and dedication the entire group of girls is willing to put in.

CALLAWAY COMBS

ZOE CUNEIO

MAISON SMITH

EMMA PARKER

SWIMMERS MAKE A SPLASH AT STATE Recap of the MSHSAA Girls Swimming

and Diving state meet

On February 16th and 17th, Eureka High School sent 14 talented swimmers off to the class two MSHSAA state championship at the St. Peters Rec Plex.

The 2022-2023 state team consisted of Daphne Bishop, Lauren Callahan, Morgan Clark, Emerson Hicks, Elise Humes, Emma Kaemmerer, Evyn Lashley, Kelsey Morrison, Aleksa Roark, Chloe Robinson, Paige Samuelson, Haiden Schoessel, Adeline Stephens and Peyton Wells.

Eureka ended off the meet with an eigth place finish out of 38 teams. To achieve that top 10 placement, many swimmers set personal, school and even state records.

Freshman Paige Samuelson, competed in the 200 free and finished in 20th place with an outstanding time of 2:00.72. Samuelson also swam the 100 fly and placed 13th overall with a time of 1:01.13.

Freshman Evyn Lashley, raced in the 500 freestyle and placed 32nd in the state with an exciting time of 5:55.60.

Freshman Lauren Callahan, competed in the 100 breaststroke and finished 26th with an exceptional time

of 12:12.15

Sophomore Chloe Robinson, swam the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the state championship. In her 50 freestyle Robinson finished 8th place in the state with an incredible time of 24.88. In her 100 backstroke she broke a minute, going 59.10 finishing in 8th place.

Sophomore Emerson Hicks, who has been grinding this season to improve her 100 breaststroke, showed up at state going a best time of 1:07.72 which is almost 4 seconds faster than her time at the beginning of the season. Putting Hicks at 7th place overall in the 100 breaststroke. She also swam the 200 Individual Medley (IM), touching at a 2:19.88 which put her at 28th place in prelims.

Sophomore Adeline Stephens, swam in the 100 backstroke and finished 15th with an insane time of 1:01.33. Stephens also raced in the 200 freestyle and went a 2:03.18 placing 28th.

Sophomore Daphne Bishop, competed in the 100 breaststroke placing 15th with an excellent time of 1:10.05. Bishop also swam the 200 IM touching at 2:21.50 in 30th place in the state,

Junior Haiden Schoessel, a 2x state champion in the 50 yard freestyle, is now a 4x state champ. At prelims, Schoessel broke the Class 2 record in both the 50 and 100 freestyle. At finals she swam her 50 freestyle and finished going a 23.02 which is the new class 2 record. Also at finals, Schoessel swam a 50.11, 100 freestyle and broke the class 2, school and official MSHSAA record.

Junior Emma Kaemmerer, swam the 500 freestyle at prelims and finished with a 5:39.67 placing her at 28th place in the state. Kaemmerer also competed in the 100 butterfly making it into finals and finishing off the season with a time of 1:00.08 in 11th place.

Senior Peyton Wells, swam the 200 IM and went a 2:20.40 putting her at 29th place in the state. She was also a part of the 200 freestyle relay including Elise Humes, Paige Samuelson and Emma Kaemmerer, which placed 18th with a time of 1:45.09.

Every swimmer who qualified and swam at the meet put in a crazy amount of work this season and it was proved by the excellence at the state meet.

photo by Cara Brotherton

Morgan Clark, Reporter

THE BUGLE’S STUDENT ATHLETE

OF THE ISSUE

Bailey Boulay

Sport: Basketball

Number: 21

Grade: 11

Birthday: January 31

Although diversifying her time with various activities, junior ,Bailey Boulay, has always been known for loving basketball.

“I started playing in 2nd grade when I was 7 years old,¨ Boulay said. “My brothers played basketball and I always went to their games and thought it was really fun.”

Outside of high school basketball, Boulay plays for her club team, the Napheesa Collier Elite, and even though she spends a lot of time focused on basketball, she is very involved in other activities at EHS. Boulay started playing lacrosse when she was in 5th grade, and later on she joined the Tennis team at EHS, her freshman year after playing it with her mother during COVID lockdown.

Boulay is the top scorer, scoring 353 points (as of March 15) this season and averaging 12.2 points per game. She also is a threat on defense with 148 rebounds (as of March 15), averaging 5.1 per game.

“This season is incredible, it’s the best sports team I ever had¨ Boulay said, “We are all just best friends and we all started playing and growing up together.”

Boulay explained that the team dreams of winning districts and going all the way to the state championship.

“Now it’s all coming true.’ she said. ‘We are extremely happy but also very sad that the season is coming to an end.”

Coach Herbert has been coaching Boulay throughout the past 3 years and has seen her progress as both a teammate and an athlete.

“She grew as a player by taking on more responsibilities, and taking on being the main person and doing more scoring. She has taken that, as she getting older and got all the experience”

Coach Herbert had high expectations for this season especially after seeing the effort Boulay and her whole team is giving.

“I’m very excited for the success that they have had because when someone like her puts in as much work as she does when she plays you around and she plays on a high level team during the summer, it’s fun to see them getting rewarded with all the success that she’s having.”

Boulay loves the atmosphere that her team has created, which makes playing a lot more fun for everyone involved.

“Everyone is just so close and it is just so fun.’ Boulay said, ‘It is more than just playing the game. Even if we weren’t having a really good season it would still be enjoyable and fun, but to make it even better we are all doing really well.”

Even her teammates rave about her skill set and other attributes, Brooklyn Bandermann,12, commented on how she enjoys playing with Boulay because of how amazing she is as both on and off the court.

“Bailey is one of the most well rounded players we have, she is tall but she can shoot dribbles and she has post moves, so she is just a really valuable player. On the court she is very smart, she makes good passes, she is a really good person to play with because she knows what’s going on and has a high basketball IQ. As a teammate she is hilarious and awesome and she keeps the team together and brings joy and happiness.”

SHOULD COLLEGE ATHLETES OVER THE AGE OF 25 BE ABLE TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS?

Ryan Herrick reporter

Debate Over Age Limit In College Sports Sparks Controversy Among The Sports Community

still have a deep love for their sport. Allowing them to participate in college sports would provide them with the opportunity to pursue their passion, compete at a high level, and perhaps even secure a career in the sport. It would also contribute to the overall diversity of college sports, bringing in a wider range of participants and styles of play.

Furthermore, it is important to consider the financial part of allowing older athletes to play college sports. College sports are often a significant source of revenue for universities, and allowing older athletes to participate could impact the financial support for younger athletes and other university programs.

The question of whether people over the age of 25 should be allowed to play college sports is a continuous Topic.

On the one hand, some argue that age should not be a barrier to participation in sports, while others contend that college sports are primarily designed for younger athletes. As a result, the debate over the age limits of college sports has been a topic of discussion for many years, and it is worth exploring both sides of the argument.

One argument in favor of allowing older athletes to play college sports is that age should not be an issue to participation in athletic activities. People over 25 years old can still be in excellent physical shape and

On the other hand, opponents argue that college sports are primarily designed for younger athletes who are still developing their skills and pursuing academic degrees. Allowing older athletes to play could disadvantage younger athletes who may be less physically mature or less experienced. Additionally, older athletes may have an unfair advantage over their younger counterparts due to their greater physical development and experience. This could ultimately lead to a less competitive and fair playing field.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to allow people over 25 years old to play college sports should be based on a careful consideration of the benefits and drawbacks. While there are valid arguments on both sides, it is important to strike a balance between the interests of older athletes and the fairness and competitiveness of college sports. Ultimately, any decision could be argued in multiple different ways but more importantly, Students should prioritize the educational side , ensuring that they continue and focus on their academic level

Zach Von Rosenberg, began training to be on the LSU’s roster at the age of 26

Joe Thomas Sr. Played running back at SC State in 2016 at the age of 55

Ka Kaw Is The Law for St Louis Battlehawks

St. Louis battlehawks return in 2023 after COVID-19

Jordan Howlett reporter

down, the St. Louis XFL team, Battle hawks, have come back to play football at The Dome at America’s Center to kickoff their 2023 season.

This XFL team was supposed to generate in 2020 with crazed fans excited to watch the battlehawks take off but was soon tackled down by COVID-19. This caused the team to call off the season, suspend operations, and file for chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to KSDK news.

In 2022, famous actors, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners bought the XFL and created new plans to revive the league.

Now in 2023, the St. Louis XFL team is back as well as seven other teams such as the Arlington Renegades, D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians, Seattle Sea Dragons, and Vegas Vipers.

Early October, the league finally established the coaching and athletes for all 8 teams.

the NFL, was drafted by the New York Jets in the 2000 NFL Draft and also played for the Buccaneers, Rams, Cardinals, and the Chiefs until retirement in 2011. Becht is now the official head coach of the St. Louis Battlehawks.

“We can not wait to get out there and get after it. The Battlehawks are ready to bring football greatness back to our city and make you all proud! KaKaw!” Becht said in a KMOV article before starting the season.

Tickets for these XFL games will be $25 each and Battlehawks merchandise is now available at the XFL shop.

This year, the Battlehawks started their season and played their first game, opening the season in 2 groundbreaking victories.

Former University of Alabama quarterback, AJ McCarron helped carry the battlehawks to success at their game on February 23rd. The Battlehawks got a 44 yard field goal from kicker Donald Hageman resulting in a St. Louis 20-18 win against the Seattle Sea Dragons.

A wide receiver, Hakeem Butler, played for the Arizona cardinals in 2019 then the Eagles in 2020 until playing for the Battlehawks where he led all four receivers with four catches for 6 yards ending with an amazing catch near the field goal area.

The St. Louis battlehawks have a big, exciting season ahead of them hopefully successful enough to lead them to the Million Dollar Game.

Anthony Becht the Official Head Coach of The St. Louis Battlehawks

Quarterback, AJ McCarron Wide reciever, Hakeem Butler Safety, Ben DeLuca

WHAT’S ON DECK FOR EUREKA BASEBALL?

Eureka baseball gains a new coaching staff and new backstops weeks before the start of their season.

Elli Gianino, Sports Editor

On January 17, 2 days prior to the release of spring coaching contracts, head baseball coach, Jim Daffron, was notified by Eureka’s head principal, Dr. Corey Sink, that Eureka’s baseball program would be taken in a new direction and his contract would not be renewed.

Parents, players, and Daffron himself remain unaware of the reasoning for his removal. Although Daffron’s baseball contract was not renewed, he continues to teach physical education and coach multiple sports at Eureka High School.

Daffron had been the leader of Eureka baseball for 13 years, earning St. Louis Suburban Conference Coach of the Year three times. Over Daffron’s tenure as head coach he had a record of 188 and 101, earning three conference championships, three district championships, and a memorable state finals run in 2015. Most recently, Daffron’s 2022 Wildcats broke Eureka’s all-time season wins record at 25.

This left the Eureka baseball team coachless with their season rapidly approaching.

Luckily, a coach was found, just in time to continue open gyms and then eventually begin tryouts. Ken Droege, Eureka baseball’s new head coach, was formerly a coach at Rockwood Summit High School. Droege coached for 11 years, serving as head coach for 8.Droege teaches physical education at Crestview Middle School.

“For about a week there was a lot of uncertainty when we didn't have a coach, but it seemed like once we got a head coach, the rest of the staff filled out pretty quickly,” outfielder Drew Nenninger, 12, said.

Michael Hunt has taken on the role as a varsity assistant coach. Brett Grittini and Tim Clubb will be coaching JV and Tyler Chambliss and Noah Baker will coach freshman. Once winter sports come to and end, Gregg Cleveland will also be assisting varsity.

Droege has been around baseball his entire life.

“I love everything about the game and the toughness it takes to succeed. Out of college I began coaching and fell in love with the challenge of getting a team to play together and compete

for a school/town,” Droege said. “I've been fortunate to have great players that have brought on a tremendous amount of success. Having those relationships still today with players is very special to me.”

After Daffron was fired, Activities Director, Gregg Cleveland, contacted Droege to fill the open position.

“Coach Cleveland reached out to me explaining the situation and asked me if I was interested in coming on board and coaching,” Droege said. “After discussing it with my family, I strongly felt this was something that I wanted to do.”

Cleveland had coached with Droege before, so he knew he was the right fit for the job.

“I used my 33 years of experience and found someone that I had coached with and who I knew would be able to handle the job,” Cleveland said. “Thank goodness he agreed to do it and we were able to find someone with head coach experience.”

Coaching at another Rockwood school for so many years, Droege was familiar with the Eureka baseball program.

“We have always been very successful and played the game right and that will continue,” Droege said.

So far, Droege has been very pleased with what he’s seen on the field throughout open gyms, tryouts, and practices.

“We have a lot of talented baseball players in our program. Our seniors have embraced this challenge and have led at an elite level each day,” Droege said.

Droege is excited to step up to the plate and swing at the challenge that is connecting with his team in the few months he’s been given.

“The most important thing to me as a coach is the relationships that are being built,” Droege said. “What we plan on doing happens because we love and trust each other. That is built over time. In our case, it will happen over the span of a few months. That's the challenge.”

The players are adapting and making sure to form connections with their new coaches in the short time they’ve been given as well.

“It was a challenge to get to know and build a relationship with Coach Droege in such a limited amount of time with only a month before tryouts, but we had a lot of good practices and worked hard so that the team could get to know Droege and he could get to know us,” Nenninger said.

The players have also had to adapt to the difference in coaching styles between Daffron and Droege.

“Coach Droege holds more coachled instructional practices where Daffron was big on letting us work individually and getting things done on our own. Droege has been very focused on the little details where Daffron focused more on some of the big ideas,” Nenninger said. “I think that both Daffron and Droege are very intense and work hard to make sure that we are prepared for any situation we could encounter.”

The new coaching staff isn’t the only new thing to Eureka baseball; both the baseball and softball fields are getting new backstops.

“The boosters, for both programs, are taking that funding on. They are getting donations and if people donate a certain amount they get their names on plaques on the post so everyone can see,” Cleveland said. “It is 100% funded by the boosters.”

After the idea started within the softball boosters, Cleveland was sure that baseball would be on board for the renovations as well.

“Softball boosters were talking about what they were going to do and as soon as I heard what was going to happen I said ‘If we do this for softball I am willing to bet baseball is going to want to do the same thing’,” Cleveland said. “Coach Daffron and I talked and he was on board and the boosters decided that it was something they would be able to do.”

Daffron brought the backstops plan to boosters to be voted on and they voted it was a good idea since no field improvements had been done in years.

The backstops should be finished early spring and ready to go before the start of games this baseball season.